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A History of The Folksbiene

 

In polish oyf der keyt
by I.L. Peretz

1946-1947 season

Malin Studios
137 West 44th Street
New York, New York

 

On January 11, 1947, at the Malin Studio, there was staged In polish oyf der keyt (Detained in the Synagogue Ante Room), a dramatized poem in three acts by I.L. Peretz, adapted and directed by David Licht, music by Herman Belinsky, sets by H.A. Condell, dance by Julia Levin.

For this production, under the editorship of Zalmen Zylbercweig and Jacob Mestel, there was published the eleventh issue of the Teater-heftn (Theatre Notebooks), which was dedicated to the history of the Folksbiene up to 1946, with articles by N. Chanin, David Licht and Boris Levin.

On December 13, 1947, as a farewell evening for David Licht, there was staged Peretz's "In polish oyf der keyt," in which David Licht played the role of "The Sinner."


 

 
 



Scene from "In Polish Oyf Der Keyt"
from the "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre."
 

 


Photo from the Ivan Busatt Studio.

 

The Cast of Characters:   The Synopsis:
 

ACT  I

In the Anteroom of the Synagogue - At Noon

It is the wedding day of the daughter of the richest merchant in town.  A poor scholar publicly declares that he is the true groom of the bride-to-be and swears that she will never plight her troth to another.  All the townsfolk are in a turmoil and feelings run high. Because of this, the offended groom's parents wish to forego the marriage and return home with their son, the groom.  All elements of the town, merchants and paupers, assemble in the anteroom of the Synagogue and await the outcome with great impatience and anxiety.  The Rabbi, in great anger, accuses the scholar of having dishonored the bride-to-be.  The scholar however, holds fast to his declaration. The bride herself enters and belies the scholar's words, declaring that she has never had any feelings towards him other than those of compassion and pity for him and his poverty.  The scholar, realizing that she does not wish to humiliate her parents by publicly acknowledging her disgrace, assumes complete responsibility.  The bride is led away to the marriage ceremony.  As a punishment, the Rabbi orders the "offender," the scholar, to be chained to a post in the anteroom of the Synagogue, there to remain until the following morning.

ACT II

Anteroom -- Evening

Now only the poor remain in the ante-room.  They have not been invited to participate in the sumptuous wedding feast.  They recall all the injustices that the bride's wealthy father has committed against them, and express sympathy for the poor scholar.  The sexton enters with drinks for them, sent by Reb Brachieh.  The bride's father, from the wedding feast.  The paupers, in anger, reject the drinks and attempt to break the chains and free the scholar.  He refuses to be freed.  Then his fellow-students attempt to release him, but he rejects them as well.   An erring woman brings him food, but he refuses to accept it . . . The bride herself enters, declaring that she has fled from her husband after the ceremony,

and begs forgiveness of the scholar for having denied him.  He recoils from her touch and asks to be left alone.  The students surround her, and after a fantastic macabre dance which is interrupted only by the call to midnight prayer, she flees . . .  The Rabbi, on his way to the Synagogue, enters and seeing the exhausted and faint "Offender," assure him that he, the Rabbi, will pray for him and his sinful soul.

ACT III

Midnight

The gay pauper is relating an anecdote of the "Baal-Shem Tov -- founder of the Chasidic movement, of whom many tales are told of his "miracles" and pithy sayings.  His story is interrupted by the hurried and excited arrival of the bride's parents in search of their daughter who has fled her husband's home.  Again the erring woman enters, this time, begging the scholar for permission to release him from his chains.  Again he refuses . . .   The paupers, wanting to forget their misery and bitter lot, engage in a merry dance, which is interrupted by the sudden appearance of the "insane man," who brings this sad news that the bride has been found drowned.

   The "Offender" then calls upon the paupers to free him.  They tear off the chains, and together with the scholar, march into the street, -- out of the anteroom -- through the night -- into the day -- away from the chains . . .

      
--- JOSEPH KASTOR

 


 

 

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